Private interests should not overrule our public good

We’d like to discuss with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the Trans Pacific Partnership and the other trade deals currently being negotiated in secret, without public input — with the aim of eliminating any public debate in Congress by using “Fast-Track” Trade Promotion Authority.

Congress has a duty, clearly stated in the Constitution, “to promote the general welfare.” A strong public life is the foundation of a free, high-quality private life. The TPP agreement looks like a tremendous threat to our republic’s sovereignty. Corporations could sue our nation into submission on any number of issues. Replacing public governing with corporate power is harmful to America. Private interests should not overrule our public good. Americans are not free when unelected corporate employees overrule our democratically elected officials.

The TPP was developed in secret, without Congressional scrutiny. The Investment Chapter highlights the intent of the TPP negotiating parties: to increase the power of multinational corporations by creating a supra-national court, or tribunal, where foreign firms can “sue” states and obtain taxpayer compensation for “expected future profits.” These investor-state dispute settlement tribunals (ISDS) are designed to overrule our national court systems. ISDS tribunals introduce a mechanism by which multinational corporations can force governments to pay compensation if the tribunal decides that a country’s laws or polices affect the company’s claimed future profits.

So we ask Ernst, how is permitting foreign corporations to disallow laws made by U.S. citizens in keeping with your oath to support and defend our Constitution?